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You also incidentally hit upon the reason why it's been marginalized by industry for so long -- it represents a huge dent in profits. Whenever something seems a

You also incidentally hit upon the reason why it's been marginalized by industry for so long -- it represents a huge dent in profits. Whenever something seems awry, a good question to ask is, cui bono (who benefits)?

PastaMonster 10y ago
and who loses? Drug industry can't patent it and own it and restrict it to cause demand and price increase. Alcohol and tobacco industry will lose customers. The governments, politicians and industries will loose face for example over the fact they have told lies for decades for profits.
- bluejekyll 10y ago
  > Alcohol and tobacco industry will lose customers Tobacco is already losing customers, and this is partly b/c of the fact that second hand smoke has been attacked so directly. It's not just YOU that's smoking, it's everyone around you (marijuana, depending on it's consumption method will suffer a similar stigma). Alcohol companies on the other hand are just being paranoid. I suspect that alcohol consumption will maintain it's current usage, or potentially even go up. In fact, if marijuana was fully legalized, it's oil being very similar to hops (and in the same family, Cannabaceae), could be used in some beverages. The beer industry could in fact have an entirely "new" product line.
  - sergers 10y ago
    That is one thing I haven't tried, but do exist. There are several marijuana drinks that get you high being sold/marketed at dispensaries
  - anarazel 10y ago
    Fwiw, I am for legalization, but the second hand smoking of MJ bothers me quite a bit. I don't like the smell and, worse, get a queasy stomach (even though I otherwise don't have such issues). Living in places where people frequently smoke outside (Berlin, now SF) that's quite annoying.
    - iamatworknow 10y ago
      That becomes more of a case of common courtesy, really. Same could be said of people who wear too much perfume or don't wear deodorant. I also am not a fan of the smell, raw, burnt, or vaped, and the whole culture of "weed sommeliers" wafting different scents with this one being "fruity" and this one being "musty" is a bit silly to me.
- Symmetry 10y ago
  If they can find a way to patent fish oil they'll find a way to patent weed, provided it becomes legal for them to do so. https://slatestarcodex.com/2014/06/15/fish-now-by-prescription/ https://slatestarcodex.com/2014/06/15/fish-now-by-prescripti...
agumonkey 10y ago
I understand the viewpoint; but what about a pragmatic peaceful solution: let the persons in need organize and spread the knowledge. We probably could setup an open statistical sufferers sharing platform to avoid rumor/placebo effects without resorting to trust a big industry.
- spacemanmatt 10y ago
  Why can't we let people have freedom, but instead propose forcing sick people to mount a lobbying effort?
  - agumonkey 10y ago
    What do you mean ?
    - mack73 10y ago
      > let the persons in need organize and spread the knowledge That's lobbying. In todays world, lobbying is a dispicable act, at least if you are into science or if you like stuff that has been proven by scientific measures. In today's world, lobbying VETOes science.
      - agumonkey 10y ago
        Hummm, lobbying implies influencing Law to me. Spreading knowledge isn't blocking science if done with scientists and people with conflicts if interests (unlike grabbing public projects or impeding legal change in your favor).
        spacemanmatt 10y ago
        Yeah, I didn't intend a value judgment on lobbying in general, so much as to highlight how unfair/unreasonable it is to put that obligation on sick people. Why can't we fix what's obvious? Any of us could end up sick in the future.

PastaMonster 10y ago

and who loses? Drug industry can't patent it and own it and restrict it to cause demand and price increase. Alcohol and tobacco industry will lose customers. The governments, politicians and industries will loose face for example over the fact they have told lies for decades for profits.

bluejekyll 10y ago
> Alcohol and tobacco industry will lose customers Tobacco is already losing customers, and this is partly b/c of the fact that second hand smoke has been attacked so directly. It's not just YOU that's smoking, it's everyone around you (marijuana, depending on it's consumption method will suffer a similar stigma). Alcohol companies on the other hand are just being paranoid. I suspect that alcohol consumption will maintain it's current usage, or potentially even go up. In fact, if marijuana was fully legalized, it's oil being very similar to hops (and in the same family, Cannabaceae), could be used in some beverages. The beer industry could in fact have an entirely "new" product line.
- sergers 10y ago
  That is one thing I haven't tried, but do exist. There are several marijuana drinks that get you high being sold/marketed at dispensaries
- anarazel 10y ago
  Fwiw, I am for legalization, but the second hand smoking of MJ bothers me quite a bit. I don't like the smell and, worse, get a queasy stomach (even though I otherwise don't have such issues). Living in places where people frequently smoke outside (Berlin, now SF) that's quite annoying.
  - iamatworknow 10y ago
    That becomes more of a case of common courtesy, really. Same could be said of people who wear too much perfume or don't wear deodorant. I also am not a fan of the smell, raw, burnt, or vaped, and the whole culture of "weed sommeliers" wafting different scents with this one being "fruity" and this one being "musty" is a bit silly to me.
Symmetry 10y ago
If they can find a way to patent fish oil they'll find a way to patent weed, provided it becomes legal for them to do so. https://slatestarcodex.com/2014/06/15/fish-now-by-prescription/ https://slatestarcodex.com/2014/06/15/fish-now-by-prescripti...

agumonkey 10y ago

I understand the viewpoint; but what about a pragmatic peaceful solution: let the persons in need organize and spread the knowledge. We probably could setup an open statistical sufferers sharing platform to avoid rumor/placebo effects without resorting to trust a big industry.

spacemanmatt 10y ago
Why can't we let people have freedom, but instead propose forcing sick people to mount a lobbying effort?
- agumonkey 10y ago
  What do you mean ?
  - mack73 10y ago
    > let the persons in need organize and spread the knowledge That's lobbying. In todays world, lobbying is a dispicable act, at least if you are into science or if you like stuff that has been proven by scientific measures. In today's world, lobbying VETOes science.
    - agumonkey 10y ago
      Hummm, lobbying implies influencing Law to me. Spreading knowledge isn't blocking science if done with scientists and people with conflicts if interests (unlike grabbing public projects or impeding legal change in your favor).
      - spacemanmatt 10y ago
        Yeah, I didn't intend a value judgment on lobbying in general, so much as to highlight how unfair/unreasonable it is to put that obligation on sick people. Why can't we fix what's obvious? Any of us could end up sick in the future.